New poll reveals that moviegoers think 3D movies are a scam, are going to the cinema less

A new poll released by Harris Interactive reveals that the majority of moviegoers believe 3D movies are just an excuse for studios, distributors, and cinemas to charge more at the box office. Admissions for 3D movies tend to be about $4 to $6 more than general admissions at North American cinemas, and it turns out that high prices are just one of many factors keeping people away from the movie theatre these days.

In mid-December 2013, Harris polled 2,311 adults of all ages across the United States on a variety of topics related to the moviegoing experience. Along with the fact that most people think 3D movies are overpriced, the poll reveals some very interesting facts about modern film audiences, their changing tastes, and movie habits.

For instance, most people (57 per cent of respondents, regardless of their generation) now prefer to watch movies at home and not at a theatre. Of those polled, 68 per cent said that they went to see a movie in a theatre at least once in 2013, but 66 per cent of those same respondents admitted that overall, they’re going to see movies on the big screen less than they were a few years ago.

So why the home theatre preference? The poll determined that high concession prices (62 per cent) and rude moviegoers like talkers and texters (56 per cent) were the biggest reasons people preferred to stay at home. It's hard to argue with that reasoning.

It’s not all bad news for the movie industry, though. When polled about the best things about the moviegoing experience, 58 pre cent cited the sound and picture quality of a movie of the big screen as the cinemas greatest advantage. Some 45 per cent also pointed to the escapist qualities offered by a movie theatre, calling the experience "a short escape from everyday life." Despite the apparent trend demonstrated by the poll, with nearly $11 billion in box office receipts, 2013 was one of the best years for Hollywood on record.

Harris released a companion poll just in time for last weekend’s Golden Globes, listing Tom Hanks as America's favorite movie star, followed closely behind by Globe winner Jennifer Lawrence and Denzel Washington.

Overall, the study loses some points for referring to Millennials as “Echo Boomers,” but there’s a boatload of interesting data to pick apart if you like movies. You can see the full poll results over here.

What do you like about the cinema experience? Do you prefer seeing movies on the big screen or in the comfort of your own home? Let us know in the comments.